After a second straight evening of moules frites, this time in Ghent (and washed down with a trio of Trappist ales), I picked up a 33cL of Ypra, a 6% “Belgian hoppy blond”. The beer comes from Bellegem, where it is brewed under the name of Brouwerij Omer Vander Ghinste.
Wednesday 8 November 2023
Monday 6 November 2023
Malheur 12 Belgian Dark Ale
Following a feed of moules frites in Brussels, I ordered a 330mL bottle of Malheur 12 Belgian Dark Ale (to aid with digestion or some such thing). The 12% ale poured with a fluffy off-white head and displayed a handsome burnt umber colour. Born in Buggenhout, Belgium, Malheur 12 is produced by Brewery de Landtsheer.
Saturday 4 November 2023
Artevelde Gentse Leute
On our first afternoon in Ghent, the Bitter Wife and I popped into Stadsbrouwerij Artevelde to rest our feet and wet our whistles. The place was stylish, with comfortable seating and Dire Straits on the stereo, so we felt instantly at ease.
Thursday 2 November 2023
Delta IPA
When I came to Belgium, I wasn’t expecting to drink a whole lot of IPAs, and certainly not many good ones, but one of the first beers that I tucked into was a Delta IPA from the Brussels Beer Project—though it certainly put a healthy Belgian spin on it. Called a “saison IPA”, the 6% brew is made with saison yeast and a quintet of Cascade, Challenger, Citra, Mosaic, and Smaragd hops. Sold in 33cL bottles, the beer pours a dull gold colour with a fluffy white head.
Tuesday 31 October 2023
Tripel D’Anvers
After a late night meal in Brussels with new friends, the Bitter Wife and I hit up a convenience store near our hotel and I came home with a bottle of Stadsbrouwerij De Koninck’s Tripel D’Anvers. The effervescent blond ale comes from Antwerp in 330mL bottles, weighing in at 8% alcohol.
Sunday 13 August 2023
West Coast Swing
West Coast Swing is a bombastic 7.2% west coast IPA from the sluggers at Left Field Brewery in Toronto. Sold in 355mL cans, the beer comes out clear and gold with a thin white head.
WCS has classic west coast aromatics—grapefruit, resin, and a healthy touch of pine. The flavour is similarly configured, with citrus and evergreen notes. The back end is bitter and the beer is undeniably boozy from start to finish.